Yes, my beer loving compatriots, spring is upon us. For many beer fans, that means an exodus of those beastly winter brews and a resurgence of light, crisp, and refreshing brews. For this beer fan, spring time means one thing: maibocks. As a big fan of the bock style of beer, I get all giddy when those delectable lighter versions hit the shelves. Maibocks, or ''May bocks'', are scaled down versions of their rich malty cousins, yet retain the style's signature flavor punch. I also love to support my local breweries, as any good beer fan should, so adding the Carolina Brewing Company's Spring Bock to my shopping basket was a no-brainer.

In the glass, this beer has a honey brown coloration. It comes with a frothy white head that has decent retention. On the nose, I was greeted with an earthy grassy aroma complete with notes of caramel and brown bread. Yup, that's a maibock. A solid intro for what I can only assume is a solid brew. When these beers are done right, there's really not much to say about them. Just a toasty grassy lager with hints of caramel. In other words, mmm mmm good.

This beer's core flavor is very malty, almost to a detriment. It gives the feel of a thick Belgian Dubbel, but without the actual oomph. Consequently, I found this beer to be a bit off-balanced, but still tasty nonetheless. All of those delicious core notes are there: brown bread, candied malt, sweet caramel, etc. I also found a toasted nutty character as well as a big veggie note that I can only describe as yams. The mouthfeel itself is quite smooth and has a mild hop profile, so this is a beer you can chew on for a while. The beer finishes malty sweet and a hint of hop bitterness.

Overall, the Carolina Brewing Company's Spring Bock is a tasty brew with lots of character. I found it to be a somewhat lopsided for the style, but that doesn't mean it's a bad beer. Quite the contrary, this is a savory and rewarding brew. Those seeking a great maibock may be thrown for a loop, but will quickly reorient for a tasty new experience. Regardless, I can easily recommend this brew to any and all beer fans. Seasoned drinkers will enjoy the experience despite the head scratching. Novices can especially benefit from this beer as a savory alternative to those spring time piss waters. Spring Bock is a flavorful easy drinking brew and I highly recommend using it as such. So ditch those fizzy yellow pansy brews and grab some CBC Spring Bocks.